2. Man boasts the noble cause,
Nor yields supine to laws
Tyrants ordain;
Let women have a share,
Nor yield to slavish fear,
Her equal rights declare,
And well maintain.
3. Come forth with sense array'd,
Nor ever be dismay'd
To meet the foe,—
Who with assuming hands
Inflects iron bands,
To obey his rash commands,
And vainly bow.
4. O Let the sacred fire
Of Freedom's voice inspire
A Female too; —
Man makes the cause his own,
And Fame his acts renown —
Woman thy fears disown,
Assert thy due.
5. Think of the cruel chain,
Endure no more the pain
Of slavery; —
Why should the tyrant bind
A cultivated mind
By Reason well refin'd
Ordained as Free.
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6. Why should a Woman lie
In base obscurity,
Her talents hid,
Has providence assign'd
Her soul to be confin'd;
Is not her gentle mind
By virtue led?
7. Let snarling cynics frown,
Their maxims I disown,
Their ways detest; —
By man, your tyrant lord,
Females no more be aw'd.
Let Freedom's sacred word,
Inspire your breast.
8. Woman aloud rejoice,
Exalt thy feeble voice
In chearful [sic] strain;
See Wollstonecraft, a friend,
Your injur'd rights defend,
Wisdom her steps attend,
And cause maintain.
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